The Market Report

Putney General Store Opened: 2019 under current ownership, 1796 previously Owner: Kim and Mike Cosco Previous Tenants: none Cooperative: none Location: 4 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT Photographed: August 10, 2021 Across town from the Putney Food Co-op is the Putney General Store, continuously operating as a general store since 1796. This small corner grocer isn't a full supermarket, but like the co-op, has a lot to offer in its historic interior even if it measures just about 3500 square feet. Putney has a general store and a food co-op, and that's actually a great representation of how a lot of small-town Vermont gets their food. The co-op culture is strong here, but so is the enduring tradition of general stores. One thing we haven't really seen yet, though, is a full-scale independent supermarket in Vermont. We'll see one in our next stop while heading north, about 12 miles north along the river from here!

Putney Food Co-op Opened:  1992 in current location; 1941 previously Owner: cooperatively owned Previous Tenants: none Cooperative: National Co-op Grocers Location: 8 Carol Brown Way, Putney, VT Photographed: August 10, 2021 Putney is home to a food co-op like Brattleboro , but the store here in Putney is smaller at only around 7000 square feet. The food co-op opened up here in 1992, moving from its previous location on Kimball Hill where it had been in business since 1941 (it was formed to help small-town residents get food and supplies during World War II). An interesting note on the history from the co-op's website : Carol Brown was the founder of the co-op, and now, the street it's on is named after her. Despite the store's small size , it still has a kitchen, coffee shop, and small cafe. Putney doesn't have a large supermarket, so this store and the other small grocer in town fill the gap. Come back tomorrow to see that one!